Eise-alarm system



F. A. SWAN.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM. APPLICATION nun Nov. 5. 1913.

f 1,1 9&5? 1 a Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

54 Fig.1. 5B

Witnesses. lhvenfor. Frederick A.Swom,

MMIQW F. A. SWAN.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. 1913.

1., 1 9, l o Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WiTnesses. 1 lnven'for.

. Frederick A.5wc1n,

WW I Atty'smsrnn WIKMI Efi ti:

one.

Finn-ALARM SYSTEM. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed. November 5,. 1913. Serial No. 799,396.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. SWAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oliftondale, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Fire-Alarm Systems, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is aspecification,

like characters on the drawing representing like p arts.

This invention relates to fire alarm sys-' means for indicating at somecentral point' the particular signal box in the auxiliary system throughwhich the fire alafm, has

been sent in and to provide an auxiliary system which cannot be restoredto its normal position after the signal has been sent in, unless thesignal box of the main system to which the auxiliary system is connectedhas been properly set.

Other objects of the invention are to improve auxiliary fire alarmsystems, all as will be more fully hereinafter ClGSCI'llQGCl and thenpointed out 1n the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein I have illus-- trated a selected embodiment ofmy invention from which the principle thereof will be readilyunderstood, Figure 1 is a view showing the auxiliary system more or lessdiagrammatically and showing also the mechanism of the fire alarm box ofthe main system with which the auxiliary system is connected; Figs. 2, 3and 1 are fragmentary detail views showing the construction of thetwo-motion detent which is employed for releasing the mechanism in themain signal box when an alarm is to be sent in.

I have shown at 1 the wires of the main fire alarm system which goes tofire alarm headquarters and through which the alarm is sounded, and at 2I have indicated a fire alarm box with which my lmproved fillXll,

iary fire alarm system is connected. The signal mechanism in this box 2is of a type that 1s commonly used in fire alarm systems and itcomprises a break wheel or signaling wheel 3 having thereon a pluralityof teeth LWhich are adapted to engage and operate the usualmake-and-break device or key break. 6 in the circuit 1, the teeth 4being so dlsposed on the signaling wheel 3 (or break wheel as it issometimes called) as to give the number of the box. This signaling wheel3 is operated through a train of gears 7 from a segmental rack 8 that ispivoted to the signal box at 9 and is operated by a spring motor 10, allas usual in fire alarm boxes of this type. The manner in which theseparts operate to sound an alarm is well known to those skilled in theart and need not be described herein.

11 is the operating lever which is pivoted to the boxat 9 and which isprovided with the usual hook 10 that projects through the door of thesignal box while the latter is closed and by which the lever is operatedto send an alarm to headquarters, all as usual in devices of thisnature.

The circuit of the auxiliary fire alarm system is shown at 12 and it isherein illustrated as being supplied with current from a battery 18 andas including a plurality o auxiliary signaling boxes 14 situated at anydesired locations throughout the building or plant in which the firealarm system is installed.

My improved mechanism is so constructed that the auxiliary circuit 12 isnormally closed and that in order to set the mechanism in signal box 2in operation to sound an alarm it is necessary to first open theauxiliary circuit 12 and then to close said circuit again. The signalboxes 14, are, therefore, provided with means for thus opening andclosing successively the auxiliary circuit 12. This may be readilyaccomplished by providing each auxiliary box 14 with a fixed contact 15and a movable contact 16 which normallyengages the fixed contact 15 andwhich has the'thumb-piece 17 thereon by which it may be opened away fromthe contact 15 thereby to open the auxiliary circuit. The movablecontact 16 is so constructed that as soon as the thumb or finger isremoved therefrom it will normally assume the position shown in Fig. 1in contact with the fixed'contact 15. The sending of an alarm throughthe auxiliary downward movement to withdraw system involves, therefore,pressing inwardly on the thumb piece 17 thereby to open the auxiliarycircuit and then removing the pressure from the thumb-piece to allow theauxiliary circuit to close again.

The signal box 2 contains mechanism which is rendered operative by thesuccessive steps of first opening and then closing the auxiliary circuitto set the signaling mechanism in operation. In the present embodi-'ment of my invention, I provide a two-step detent which normally holdsthe signaling mechanism in the signal box 2 from operation and which isgiven its initial releasing movement by the opening of the auxiliaryeircuit'and is given its final releasing movement by the. closing ofsaid circuit again. In my invention the signal mechanism in the box 2 isset normally by winding up the spring motor 10 and this two-step detentmechanism'above referred to normally holds the signal mechanism fromoperating but releases it whenever the auxiliary circuit 12 is openedand then closed again. While there are various constructions which willaccomplish the above end, that herein shown has proved to be ofpractical value and will suffice to illustrate the principle of theinvention.

One of the gears 7 of the train of gearing between the segmental rack 8and the signaling wheel 3 is provided with a stop pin 18 which isadapted to be engaged by a stop arm 19 that is pivoted at 20 to thesupporting frame of the signal mechanism, said stop arm 19 being actedupon by a spring 21 that normally tends to withdraw it from engagementwith the stop pin 18. lVhenthe Q'gnal is set, the stop arm 19 is held inengagement with the stop pin 18 by means of the two-step detent abovereferred to, this detent being herein shown as an arm or lever 22pivoted to the supporting frame at 23 and provided with two separatedfingers 24 and 25 of different lengths. The stop arm 19 has rigidtherewith a portion 26 which is normally engaged by the longer finger 24of the detent when the signal mechanism is set as shown in Figs. 1 and2. The operation of releasing the signal mechanism involves first anupward movement of the detent sufficient to carry the longer finger 24.out of engage ment with the portion 26 and the shorter finger 25 intoposition to engage said portion as shown in Fig. 3, this operationpartially withdrawing the stop arm from the stop pin 18, and then givingthe detent a downward motion to withdraw the shorter finger 25 from theportion 26, thus allowing the spring 21 to give the stop arm 19 itsfinal movement as shown in Fig. 4. The shape of the finger 24 is suchthat when the detent has its second the finger 25 from the portion. 26,said finger 24 will pass over the upper side of the portion 26 thusallowing the final movement of the stop arm 19. It will thus be seenthat when the signal mechanism in the box 2 is set it can be releasedonly by giving the detent first an upward movement and then a subsequentdownward movement, the first or upward movement operating to partiallyrelease the stop arm and the second or downward movement resulting incompletely releasing the stop arm. As soon as the stop arm is entirelyremoved from the pin 18 then the motor spring 10 comes into play to setthe signal wheel 3 in rotation thereby to sound the signal.

My improved auxiliary system is provided with means whereby the steps ofopening and closing the auxiliary circuit 12 will operate to give thedetent these two successive movements. In the present embodiment of myinvention this is accomplished by providing the auxiliary system with asignal-controlling magnet 27 and by providing the lever 22 of the detentwith an extension 28 which constitutes an armature for said magnet 27.The construction of the parts is such that when the magnet is energizedthe detent is held in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, that is, inits lowered position, while when the magnet is denergizcd the detent isthrown into its upward position either by the action of gravity on thearmature 28 or by a suitable spring 29. When the signal is set,therefore, the current in the closed auxiliary circuit 12 maintains themagnet 27 energized and holds the detent in the position shown in Fig.2. The opening of the auxiliary circuit allows the detent to assume theposition shown in Fig. 3 thus partially releasing the stop arm 19 andthe subsequent closing of this auxiliary circuit brings the detent intothe position shown in Fig. 4 again thus completely releasing the stoparm 19 and allowing the signal mechanism to be set in operation.

In order that the signal box may be operated by drawing down the usualhook, in the door thereof, it is necessary to provide means whereby thedownward movement of the lever 11 from the position shown in Fig. 2 tothat shown in Fig. 3 and then its subsequent upward movement shalloperate to give the detent its two successive movements. I accomplishthis herein by providing means whereby the movement of the lever 11 fromthat shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 will open the auxiliarycircuit, while the return movement of the lever will close the circuitagain. I accomplish this herein by providing this auxiliary circuit 12with two contacts 30 and 31 which are normally closed and by providingmeans on the lever 11 for opening the contacts when the lever 11 ismoved downuurrdly into the position shown in Fig. 3. The contact 31 isshown as carried by a spring arm 32, the end of which engages a camextension 33 formed on the lever 11, this extension being preferablyprovided with a facing 34 of insulating material. When the lever 11 isin its elevated position, the cam extension 33 allows the contacts 30,31 to be closed but as the lever moves downwardly into the positionshown in Fig. 3, this cam extension 33 acts against the end oi theresilient arm 32 and opens the contacts 31, 30 thus opening theauxiliary circuit and deenergizing the magnet 27 so that the detentassumes the position shown in Fig. 3. 'When the hook on the signal boxis released, the lever 11 will assume the position shown in Fig. 4 thusallowing the auxiliary circuit 12 to again be closed at the contacts 30,31 with the result that the detent is given its second movement to allowthe complete releasing of the stop arm 19.

I have also associated with the lever 11 means for mechanically movingthe detent so that in case the detent sticks for any reason the alarmwill still be given. The lever 22 of the detent has integral therewithan upwardly-extending arm 35 carrying a pin 36 at its upper end and thelever 11 is provided with a cam surface 37 adapted to engage said pin 36as the lever is swung from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown inFig. 3, such cam surface 37 by its action on the pin 36 operating toraise the detent. The lever 11 also has formed thereon a cam surface 30that is adapted to engage said pin 36 when the lever swings from theposition shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in F ig. 4, thus giving saiddetent its second movement. When the apparatus is operating properly thedetent is given the first of lts two successive movements by the springs29 when the auxiliary circuit is opened, and the second of its twomovements by the energized magnet 27 when the auxiliary circuit isclosed again. The cams 37 and 80 only come into play in case thearmature 28 sticks or in case there is no current in the auxiliarycircuit.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the detent can be given its twomovements either by operating one of the auxiliary boxes 14 in theauxiliary circuit 12, or by drawing downwardly on the hook 10 of thesignal box 2 and then releasing said hook.

As a part of my auxiliary system I have provided means whereby theoperating 01 any auxiliary signal box 14 will give an indication at acentral point as to which of the auxiliary signal boxes have beenoperated. This is arranged for by providing an annunciator having asmany circuits as there are auxiliary signal boxes, two being shown inthe illustrated embodiment of the invention. This annunciator is shownat 38 and it comprises two indicators or drops 39, each branch circuit40 that leads to an auxiliary signal box 14. Each branch circuit 40 hasa contact 41 therein situated to be engaged by the contact 16 of thecorresponding auxiliary box when the latter is opened away from thecontact 15. The circuits 40 are connected by a common return 42 to oneside of the auxiliary circuit 12 at 43.

The circuits 40 and 42 constitute a shunt circuit and when the contact16 is brought into engagement with the corresponding contact 41 thecurrent from the battery 3 will flow through the closed circuit 40 andwire 42 to the point 43 and thence to the battery 13. The operation 01any auxiliary signal box 14 results, therefore, not only in setting thesignal box 2 in operation, but also in actuating the annunciator 33 toindicate which particular auxiliary signal box has been actuated. Afterthe signal box 2 has been operated and all the signals desired have beensent therethrough, then the signal mechanism in said box is supposed tobe set as shown in Fig. 2 by the proper oflicial before the box isclosed.

I have provided herein means whereby indication will be given at thelocal headquarters of the auxiliary system if the main signal box 2should be closed without resetting the signal mechanism therein. Thisend is herein accomplished by the following mechanism: The auxiliarycircuit 12 has therein a magnet 44 of an annunciator, the armature 45 ofwhich magnet is carried by a lever 46 pivoted at 47 and provided with ahook 48 to engage a pin 49 on the arm 50 of the annunciator drop 51. Solong as the magnet 44 is energized the hook 48 is held:

in its elevated position shown in Fig. 1, thus holding the drop 51 inits non-indicating position. When the auxiliary circuit is opened,however, the magnet 44 is deenergized and the lever 46 drops either bygravity or by action of the spring 52, thus releasing the drop 51 andpermitting it to tall. This indicates that the auxiliary circuit hasbeen opened. I have provided means whereby if the signal box 2 is closedwithout resetting the signal mechanism therein it will be impossible torestore the drop 51 of the annunciator to its non-indicating positionshown in Fig. 1. I secure this end by pro viding a shunt circuit whichis closed when the signal mechanism in the box 2 is run down and whichshunts a portion of the current around the magnet 44 so that said magnetwill have insuiiicient strength to hold the annunciator drop 51 in theposition shown in Fig. 1. This shunt circuit is shown at 53 and connectswith the annunciator circuit 12 at 54 and includes two normally openedcontacts 55, 56 in the signal box, said shunt circuit being connectedwith the auxiliary circuit again at 57. When the signal mechanism in thebox 2 has run the lever 46 will hold the said lever down, the end of thesegment 8 engages the contact 55 and closes it against the contact 56,thus closing the shunt circuit 53. This shunt circuit has suchresistance relative to the auxiliary circuit 12 that when it is'closed asuflicient portion of the current in the auxiliary circuit will passthrough the shunt circuit and will thus be shunted around the magnet 44so that the magnet 44 will have insulficient strength to hold theannuneiator drop in its non-indieating position. It will, therefore, beimpossible to maintain annunciator drop 51 raised so long as the shuntcircuit 53 is closed and this shunt circuit will remain closed so longas the signal mechanism in the box 2 is run down. Whenever, therefore,it is found that the annunciator drop 51 will not remain in the positionshown in Fig. 1, then it is evident that the shunt circuit 53 is closedand that the signal mechanism in the box 2 has not been reset.

I have also provided means associated with the annunciator having thedrop 51 to indicate when the auxiliary circuit is opened and when thelatter is closed again. This is herein accomplished by means of anindicating circuit 58 having a battery 59 therein and connected to thelever 46, said circuit 58 having an indicator or signal 60 therein andprovided with a contact 61 with which the lever 46 engages when it isreleased by the magnet 44. Whenever the auxiliary circuit 12 is openedtherein and the magnet 44 is deenergized, the lever 46 will drop ontothe contact 61 thus closing the circuit 58 and sounding the signal 60which may be of any suitable type. IVhen the circuit 12 is closed again,the magnet 44 becomes energized thus raising the lever 46 and if thedrop 51 is in its lowered position, this lever 46 will be brought upagainst a contact 62 in another circuit 63 which has a signal 64 thereinand which connects with the signal circuit 58 at 65. The signal 60 willthus be sounded when the auxiliary circuit is opened and the signal 64will be sounded when said auxiliary circuit is closed again. WVhen theannunciator drop 51 is reset as shown in Fig. 1, the engagement of thepin 49 with away from the contact 62 and thus normally both signalcircuits 58 and 63 will be open.

l/Vhile I have herein illustrated my invention as applied to and used inconnection with one familiar type of signaling mechanism, I wish tostate that the invention is not confined to such type as the particularconstruction of the mechanism in the signal box is not essential to theinvention, and with appropriate modifications my auxiliary systems canbe applied to any of the ordinary fire alarm systems now in common use.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a fire alarm system, the combinationwith a main signal system including a signaling wheel, of means tendingnormally to operate said signaling wheel, a stop to hold said wheelinoperative, which stop requires two successive movements in the samedirection to withdraw it, an auxiliary closed circuit system, and meansresponsive to opening of said auxiliary circuit to partially withdrawsaid stop without, however, releasing the signaling wheel and responsiveto closing of said auxiliary circuit again to completely withdraw saidstop thereby releasing said signaling wheel.

' 2. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a signal box having asignaling wheel, an actuating spring therefor, a detent to hold saidspring inoperative which detent requires two successive movements torelease it and a setting lever for placing the spring under tension, ofan auxiliary closed circuit system, means to give the detent its twosuccessive movements upon opening and then closing the circuit of theauxiliary system and means operated by said lever to cause the detent tohave said two successive movements.

3. In a fire alarm system, in combination a signal box having asignaling wheel, an actuating spring therefor, a detent to hold saidspring inoperative which detent required two successive movements torelease the spring, a setting lever for said spring and means operatedby said lever to cause the stop to have its two successive movements.

4. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main signal systemincluding a signaling wheel, an actuating spring therefor, a settinglever to place the spring under tension, a detent to hold said spring,inoperative which detent requires two successive movements in oppositedirections to release it and means operated by the setting movement ofthe said lever to give the detent its two successive movements.

5. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main signal systemincluding a signaling wheel, of a stop to hold said signaling wheelinoperative, an auxiliary closed circuit system, and means renderedoperative by the opening of said auxiliary circuit to give said step apartial releasing movement and by the subsequent closing of saidauxiliary circuit to give said step a further movement in the samedirection to completely release the signaling wheel and thereby permitthe signal to be sounded.

6. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main signal systemincluding a signaling wheel. of an actuating spring therefor, a pivotedstop arm to hold said signal- 1ng wheel inoperative, which stop armretlfii quires two successive movements in the same direction to releasethe spring, a detent to control said stop arm, an auxiliary closedcircuit svstem and means to give said detent a movement in one directionby opening the auxiliary circuit and in the opposite direction byclosing said auxiliary circuit again.

7. In a fire alarm system in combination a signal box having a signalingwheel, an actuating spring therefor, a detent normally restraining saidspring from movement which detent requires two successive movements torelease it, a setting lever for setting the spring, an auxiliary closedcircuit system, a magnet therein which normally holds the detent inoperative position, means at various points inthe auxiliary system toopen said auxiliary circuit and close it again thereby to release thedetent and means operated by the setting lever during its settingmovement to give said detent its two movements.

8. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main signal systemincluding a signaling wheel, of means tending normally to operate saidwheel, a stop arm to engage said means and to rest-rain the movementthereof, an auxiliary closed circuit system, and means for giving thestop arm an initial withdrawing movement which is insuflicient, however,to disengage it from said means by opening the auxiliary circuit and tocomplete the withdrawing movement of said stop arm thereby releasingsaid means by closing said auxiliary circuit again.

9. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main signal systemincluding a sig naling wheel, mechanism including a train of gearingtending normally to operate said wheel, a stop arm to engage one of thewheels of said train to restrain movement thereof, an auxiliary closedcircuit system connected with the main signal system, means located atvarious points in the auxiliary circuit by which the latter can beopened and closed again, means to give the stop arm an initialwithdrawing movement insuflicient to release the train of gearing byopening the auxiliary circuit and to complete the withdrawing movementthereby releasing said train upon closing said circuit again.

10. In a fire alarm signal box, the combination with a signal operatingmechanism, of a movable stop arm engaging said mechanism and normallyrestraining it from operation, automatically-operative means tending towithdraw said stop arm, a detent to hold the stop arm in operativeposition, said detent having, two fingers of diiferent lengths to engagesaid stop arm in different positions of the detent.

l1. lln a fire alarm signal box, the combination with a signaling wheel,of means tending normally to rotate said wheel, a

spring-actuated locking finger to engage said means and to preventoperation thereof, a detent to lock said finger in operative positionandmeans to give the detent two separate movements, said detentpartially releasing the locking finger during one movement andcompletely releasing it during the next movement.

12. In a fire alarm signal box, the combination with a signaling wheel,of a spring for operating it, gearing connecting the spring and wheel, aspring-actuated locking finger sustained independently of the gearingand adapted to engage the latter and restrain movement of the signalingWheel, a detent having two fingers of different lengths to control theposition of said looking finger and means to move said detent so as tobring said fingers successively into engagement with the locking finger.

13. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main system having asignaling mechanism therein, of an auxiliary system provided with meansfor causing operation of the signaling mechanism and means separate fromthe signaling mechanism and associated with the auxiliary system toindicate when the signaling mechanism has run down.

14. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main system havingsignaling mechanism therein, of a closed circuit auxiliary system, meansactuated by the successive operations of opening and closing said closedcircuit to actuate the signaling mech anism and means associated withthe auxiliary system to indicate when the auxiliary circuit is open andwhen it is closed.

15. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main system havingsignaling mechanism therein, of a closed circuit auxiliary system, meansactuated by the successive operations of opening and closing said closedcircuit to actuate the signaling mechanism and means associated with theauxiliary system to indicate when the auxiliary circuit is open and whenit is closed and when the signaling mechanism has run down.

16. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main system, ofsignaling mechanism therein, an auxiliary closed circuit system, meansby which the signaling mechanism is operated when the circuit of theauxiliary system is first opened and closed, an indicating device, meansactuated by the current in said auxiliary system for holding theindicating device in non-indicating position and means renderedoperative when the signaling mechanism has 'run down to render saidformer means inoperative whereby the indicating device will assume anindicating position.

17. In a fire alarm system, the combination with a main system, ofsignaling mechanism therein, an auxiliary closed circuit system providedWith means for actuating the signaling mechanism, an indicating device,a magnet in the closed circuit Which normally holds the indicatingdevice in nonindicating position and means rendered 0perative When thesignaling mechanism has run down to render the magnet inoperative tohold the indicating device in its non-indicating position.

18. In a fire alarm system, the combination With a main system, ofsignaling mechanism therein, an auxiliary closed circuit system providedWith means for actuating 15 the signaling mechanism, an indicatingdevice, a magnet in the closed circuit which normally holds theindicating device in non- Y FREDERICK A. SVAN.

Witnesses:

LOUIS C SMITH, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents, each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

